Leonore is no “feisty” heroine from central casting. He uses less direct methods to show his power and, while rougher than most modern men would be, he respects Leonore too much to completely subjugate her. Laffite is no puffed-up buffoon determined to show his power by shouting out orders and forcing Leonore into submission. The invader/captive plot is certainly a familiar one but Sawyer’s characterizations make it good. It was at this point that Sawyer’s book first won me over. Though there is an attraction, Leonore will not countenance a challenge to her rule of San Stefan and she makes plans to remove Laffite. He makes his presence known to Leonore as she is bathing and, from that moment, the sparks start to fly. One of these privateers, Jean Laffite (a real privateer, by the way), manages to navigate the complex lagoons of San Stefan and take over the island. The fact that she is known to be alone in running both San Stefan and the businesses her father left behind has left her vulnerable to other privateers and pirates as well as the French, Spanish, and English colonial governments in the region. However, instead of the passive, doormat heroines and rapist-heroes of old, she uses strong characters to tell a story from a very intriguing time in history.Īs the story opens, Leonore Roncival is cementing her position as mistress of the Caribbean island of San Stefan after the death of her father, leader of a gang of privateers.

Sawyer, an Australian author being published for the first time in the United States, delivers a large-scale historical drama in a fashion reminiscent of historical fiction and historical romances from many years ago. Anyone longing for old-style big, sweeping historicals will probably enjoy Cheryl Sawyer’s latest novel, a story rich with historical detail.

Siren by Cheryl Sawyer